THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Showers, hi 48, lo 36

Saturday: Showers, chance of mixed snow, hi 43, lo 33

Sunday: Chance of snow, hi 40, lo 28

>>> SATURDAY, JAN. 8: BODYBOX CD RELEASE

A mix of funk, folk, bass-driven soul/hip-hop and alternative rock, a Bodybox song (or performance, Bobble Tiki assumes) could go any direction at any time. While none of the band's work comes off like a reinvention of the wheel, and all is comfortingly familiar, Bodybox definitely has a bevy of personalities to draw from - and they pull from them all with skill and obvious care. Saturday, they'll celebrate the release of an 11-song CD at the 4th Avenue Tavern in Olympia

• Fourth Avenue Tavern, 9 p.m., 210 Fourth Ave. E, Olympia, 360.786.1444
  

>>> SUNDAY, JAN. 9: PEKING ACROBATS

Unless you're completely dead on the inside, there should still be a bit of childlike wonderment that comes from seeing someone do something remarkable. The Peking Acrobats from China - a skilled touring troupe of jugglers, gymnasts, cyclists and tumblers - have the ability to instill such wonderment - and have been doing so for more than 50 years. Sunday, the Peking Acrobats will bring their "Silver Anniversary Tour" to the Pantages in Tacoma.

• Pantages Theater,-3 p.m., $19-$49, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5890

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>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

MATT DRISCOLL Editor and Self-made Hundredaire
I'll be dropping by the Northwest Convergence Zone podcast Sunday for my monthly visit with Darrell and the gang. I got real high a few months back and dreamed up this alt-sport/entertainment column - Cup Check. Amazingly it managed to come to fruition. Now I go on the Convergence Zone once a month and pimp the thing, which typically results in some pretty entertaining podcast fun. This week, Darrell tells me Paul Skansi will be calling in - I SHIT YOU NOT! Former Seahawk Paul Skansi ... Should be pretty cool.

STEPH DEROSA: Person, Place or Thing Correspondent
This weekend I plan on writing a haiku about the late rapper, Eazy-E.  In it I will try to refrain from using the word "fuck." Wish me luck.

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BRETT CIHON Meat Market Correspondent
I have a full weekend of Meat Market. On Friday evening I'm headed to O'Henry's Pub in Puyallup to check out the action. Saturday, I plan to watch the Hawks game in the afternoon then cruise on over to the Lakewood Denny's. Probably won't be much dancing, but I received a hot tip that the Denny's might make for great Meat Market fodder. Even if it's a bust, I'll still get to order a Grand Slam. Things are looking up.

NIKKI TALOTTA Features Writer
Looking forward to a great weekend! Friday the hubby and I are going house hunting - it's a buyer's market out there, and we're gonna see what Oly has to offer. Friday night I'm mixing up martinis, shooters and such. Saturday brings me back to the bar, serving up happy hour while watching football. And Sunday is reserved for reading books and writing articles.

JOE IZENMAN Music/Theater Critic
Let's see... Seahawks playoff game on Saturday, poker game with beer draft Saturday night, DnD Sunday... I'm not sure I can survive any more excitement than that, but if I find a way, it'll probably involve movies at the Grand, returning Christmas presents and buying birthday presents. Because I'm hardcore like that.

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
I've been thinking about having some down time and this weekend sounds as good as any other time. Translation? I got no plans other than sticking as close to home and my occasionally-rolling little son as possible.

JENNIFER JOHNSON: Lifestyle/Leisure Writer
Dinner and intellectually stimulating games on Friday evening. Yoga and kickboxing on Saturday morning, gonna shake, shake, shake it Saturday night.

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
I'll be in tech rehearsals for Frost/Nixon at Tacoma Little Theatre most of the weekend, but I am planning to attend two different board game nights--by which I mean orgies!  By which I mean board game nights.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Meat Market Photographer
Hitting Stanley and Seafort's for my dad's birthday Friday and then the Bull Market at Paradise Bowl for a shoot of Ladies Night.

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ALEC CLAYTON: Visual Arts Critic
 Nothing doing this weekend except PFLAG-Olympia meeting.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

Filed under: All ages, Arts, Benefits, Club Hopping, Events, Food & Drink, Music, Olympia, Puyallup, Tacoma, The Weekend Hustle,